Documentation Report Visit of CRI Museum and Library by the 1st year Students (2017-18) of Anthropology Department, Mrinalini Dutta Mahavidyapith Date of visit: 11/09/2017 Guided by Dr. Suchismita Sen Chowdhury Assisted by Smt. Tanushree Polley and Saswati Roy (Teachers of Anthropology Department) Contents ❖ A Note on CRI (Cultural Research Institute) ❖ Documentation of Ethnographic Museum ❖ Documentation of Puppets of Bengal ❖ Documentation of Kanthas of Bengal ❖ Documentation of Boat Museum ❖ Library Visit ❖ List of Participants A note on CRI The Cultural Research Institute (CRI), a scientific and technical wing of the Backward Classes Welfare Department and Tribal Development Department, Government of West Bengal, was established in May, 1955. The Institute is presently functioning from Ambedkar Bhavan at P-1/4, C.I.T. Scheme-VIIM, V.I.P. Road, P.O. Kankurgachi, Kolkata – 700 054. It is performing its activities through various sections viz. Research & Planning, Statistical, Library, Audio- Visual, Museum, Training and Publication. Cultural Research Institute today, is actively engaged in providing planning inputs to the State Government, for conducting Research and Evaluation studies, Collection of Data, to identify challenges in the field of Socio-Economic Development of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes. CRI is also involved in understanding, preserving and promoting their cultural heritage. Cultural Research Institute has one old Ethnographic Museum. The Museum of this Institute is holding nearly five hundred composite types of specimens for display in the showcases. Most of the specimens are bio-degradable, which requires more attention and appropriate care. Specimens of the Museum are covering a panoramic view of tribal we style of West Bengal. A Boat Museum, a Museum for Bengal Kantha and a Museum for Bengal Puppets have been set up recently. The Library of the Institute, mainly utilized for in-house Research, Study & Reference purposes, currently has an approximate collection of above eight thousand five hundred books and journals of National and International repute. The panorama of the books include different aspects of tribal life and associated factors. The library also contains a small Reading-Room. A Quarterly Bulletin of the Cultural Research Institute is published since 1962. The Institute has also published a number of Books and Monographs on the Scheduled Castes of West Bengal and another on the Scheduled Tribes of West Bengal for ready official reference of the Department & its linked offices. The Institute organizes and actively participates in Seminars/Workshops on the different problems and development initiatives for the SC/ST/OBCs both at the State and National level. Suchismita Sen Chowdhury Documentation of Ethnographic Museum The Ethnographic Museum of CRI presents a systematic profile of the tribal communities and attempts to preserve indigenous artifacts under various categories, specially on food-gathering, hunting, fishing, agriculture, pottery, basketry, domestic utensils, dress and ornaments, paintings, arts and crafts etc. for facilitating research on techno-economic aspects. Collection and display of artifacts and models of different tribal groups of West Bengal could be found in the ethnographic museum, which have been documented in a systematic way. Sl. Name of the artifact Community Description of the artifacts No. associated Made of grass strand of bamboo slits and 1 BASKET(1) SANTAL are used for household & other purposes. Made of bamboo slits & is used to 2 STRAINER separate the dirt from the seeds and ( Haria chala) (1) SANTAL grains. Brooms are made up of grass strand and 3 BROOM(1) SANTAL are used for cleaning or sweeping purposes. 4 CHALI(1) SANTAL Strainer for making haria 5 MEASURING POT (1) SANTAL Made of wood and used for measuring grains. 6 DHARA (1) SANTAL Thread making instrument 7 SNAKE BASKET(1) SANTAL Made of twigs or processed bamboo & used for keeping snakes inside. 8 MEASURING CUP(1) SANTAL Made of wood &used for measuring grains. 9 BASKET BOX (1) SANTAL Container 10 PLATED LEAF FOR SANTAL Container MAT(1) 11 PAINTED BOWL(1) SANTAL Container 12 BAMBOO SANTAL Container CONTAINER(1) 13 DUSTER (1) SANTAL Made of jute fibre & cotton & is used for cleaning floor of the houses. 14 HARIA CHALA(1) SANTAL Strainer for making haria 15 ROUND BASKET(1) SANTAL Container 16 TASA (1) SANTAL Container 17 WINNOWING FAN SANTAL Made of bamboo splits. The fanning with (HATAK) [1] winnowing fan for removing dirt is a traditional process. Sl. Name of the artifact Community Description of the artifacts No. associated Made of bamboo stick, coconut shell & string 18 VIOLIN (1) SANTAL & used as musical instrument. These are productions of santal trainees of 19 BED COVER SANTAL training cum production centre/cotton/though (PARKUMATE) [1] these are bed covers, yet at times are used for wrappers. 20 COMB (KAKRI & SANTAL Made of wood and used for hair dressing. NAKIC)[1] 21 HAT (TOKA) [1] SANTAL Made of bamboo slits & is used to protect the head from sun during agricultural works. 22 CARPET(1) SANTAL 23 DHAMSA(2) SANTAL Made of sisal fibre & used for various purposes. 24 ROPE(KONGAT SANTAL BABER)[1] Made of feather of peacock. The dancers use it 25 PEACOCK SANTAL for decorating their heads. FEATHER(MOHUA PINCHER)[1] They are processed dry leaves. 26 SANTAL LEAF(1) SANTAL Made of silver. 27 NECKLACES(6 pcs) SANTAL Though they are not colourful still due to their (HARHARA & fascinating and appealing designs they seek HANSLI) attention. These extraordinary ornaments depict a vivid blend of tradition and culture of santal. 28 EARNINGS (6 pcs) SANTAL Made of brass and are used as ear ornaments. Made of brass, silver & other metals and are 29 BRACELET(2 pairs) SANTAL used in arms. BANGLES (i)Made of iron and mainly worn by the people 30 (i) DUD BALA[1] SANTAL Jhalda and Purulia. (ii) SILVER (ii)Made of silver. These are appealing and used BANGLES(1) as ornaments. Sl. Name of the artifact Community Description of the artifacts No. associated HAIR PIN Made of silver and worn to enrich the beauty of 31 (PAN PATA & SANTAL coiffure. SOLOK) ANKLE Made of brass and used mainly by the newly 32 ORNAMENTS( SANTAL married woman as ornament of ankle. At LIPUR, BANKI & present, these are rarely used. PAGAM) [5 pairs] 33 ARMLET(BAJU) SANTAL Made of brass and used as an ornament of upper [1pair] arm. 34 SARI (1) SANTAL Made of coarse cotton cloth and used as female dress. 35 BATTLE SANTAL Made of iron blade and wooden shaft and is AXE(KAPI)[1] used for killing bigger animals. 36 CHARM BOX (1) BHUTIA Made of copper, stone and colour beads. It is kept to drive away devils. 37 TREE DEPICTING BHUTIA The carving has been done on a flat piece of LIFE CYCLE(1) wood which expresses some religious belief of the people. 38 BHUTIA BOX(1) BHUTIA 39 DRIED MILK BHUTIA 40 LAMP STAND(1) BHUTIA Made of wood and brass. It is used for placing lamp at the time of worship. 41 BUDDHA IN BHUTIA Made of copper and paper. It is placed in TIBETAN FRAME worshipping place in the house. 42 WOODEN PRAYER BHUTIA Made of wood and used for printing prayers on BLOCK(1) prayer flags, papers, etc. 43 BELL(1) BHUTIA Made of brass. Ringing of bell during worship is a common practice. 44 4 TYPES OF HATS BHUTIA Made of fur, wool and golden thread. Used to (SHAMN) protect head from cold. 45 CARPET(1) BHUTIA Made of wool and used as seat. Made of cotton and leather. Used to carry 46 BAG(1) BHUTIA commodities. Sl. Name of the artifact Community Description of the artifacts No. associated 47 FLOWER VASE(1) BHUTIA Made of buffalo horn and coloured stones. Used for decoration purposes. 48 ASH TRAY(1) BHUTIA Made of wood and buffalo horn. It is used as ash tray. 49 TRAY(SERGED)(1) BHUTIA Made of wood and used for serving drinks and other food items to guests. 50 SPOON(1) BHUTIA Made of silver and used for serving pickles and such other food items. 51 FEMALE BHUTIA Made of wooden cloth and used as female dress. DRESS(CHUBA)[1] Made of leather and coarse wooden cloth. Used 52 SHOE (1 pair) BHUTIA to protect the feet from the dirt of the roads and also from the biting of cold. Made of paper and coloured textile. It relates to 53 SCROLL BHUTIA some religious beliefs of the people. PAINTING(1) Made of wood and animal skin. Used as musical 54 DRUM(1) BHUTIA instrument. Made of copper and brass. Blown mainly for 55 TRUMPET(1) BHUTIA religious purposes. 56 KANCHANJANGHA BHUTIA Made of brass. GOD(1) 57 PEN STAND(1) BHUTIA 58 RELIGIOUS BHUTIA Made of metals. ITEM(1) 59 TEA CUP(1) BHUTIA Made of brass and copper. Used for drinking tea. DRINKING Made of wood and used for keeping and 60 JUG(PAKHI- BHUTIA drinking water. CHYAN)[1] Sl. Name of the artifact Community Description of the artifacts No. associated 61 BASKET(2) BHUTIA Made of cone splits and used as Tiffin box. 62 WOODEN BOWL(1) BHUTIA Made of wood and brass plate. Used to keep ornaments. Made of brass and stone. Worn for the 63 FINGER RING BHUTIA decoration of finger. (CHIGO)[1] Made of brass and as ornaments of arm. 64 BRACELET(1) BHUTIA Made of coloured beads and tread. It has some 65 GARLAND(1) BHUTIA religious value and also used as ornament. Made of synthetic threads and used for hair 66 RIBBON(TOPSLA) BHUTIA decoration. Made of ivory. Used as bangles. 67 BONE ORNAMENT BHUTIA Made of wood and used for pounding chilli and 68 CHILLI LEPCHA such other spices. POWDER(SUNG KAUR CHAK BOO) Made of gourd shell and bamboo.